Tag: prospects

Why Red Sox pitching prospect Juan Valera could break out in 2026

At this time last year, Red Sox pitching prospect Juan Valera appeared primed to take another step forward in 2025.

Valera, originally signed for $45,000 as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in April 2023, put himself on the map in his stateside debut two seasons ago. The young right-hander forged a 1.99 ERA with 68 strikeouts to 28 walks in 18 outings (16 starts) spanning 63 1/3 innings between the rookie-level Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem. He held opposing hitters to a .125 batting average en route to being named an FCL All-Star and SoxProspects.com’s Pitcher of the Year.

Looking to build off significant momentum gained in 2024, Valera came into camp last spring stronger on both a physical and mental level, according to Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham. Valera stood out by displaying an uptick in velocity and a sharper command of his secondaries on the backfields in Fort Myers. As a result, he was rewarded with an aggressive season-opening assignment to High-A Greenville.

When Greenville’s season began in early April, Valera was still a month-plus out from his 19th birthday, making him one of the youngest players at the High-A level. With just 23 career innings above rookie ball to that point, Valera unsurprisingly got off to a shaky start. In his first eight starts for the Drive, the righty posted a 5.40 ERA with 37 strikeouts to nine walks over 33 1/3 innings in which opponents batted .284 against him.

After turning 19 on May 18 and surrendering three runs (two earned) in 3 1/3 frames against Bowling Green a week later, Valera was placed on the injured list due to elbow soreness on May 27 and was not activated until late August. He then made two more (short) starts for Greenville before the season ended, allowing three earned runs on five hits, one walk, and nine strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings of work.

Altogether, Valera pitched to a 5.45 ERA (3.97 FIP) with 46 strikeouts to 10 walks in 10 starts (38 innings) for Greenville in 2025. Opponents batted .281 against him overall. That includes a .341 average against left-handed hitters and a .206 average against right-handed hitters.

Among 156 minor leaguers who threw at least 35 innings in the hitter-friendly South Atlantic League last year, Valera ranked 19th in xFIP (3.00), 23rd in walk rate (6%), 28th in walks per nine innings (2.37), 40th in strikeouts per nine innings (10.89), 52nd in strikeout rate (27.5%), and 62nd in swinging-strike rate (13.2%), per FanGraphs.

Both Baseball America and SoxProspects.com currently rank Valera as Boston’s No. 5 prospect; MLB Pipeline has him slightly lower at No. 12. Earlier this month, SoxProspects.com’s director of scouting Ian Cundall (writing for Baseball America) identified Valera as a potential breakout pitching prospect within the Red Sox system based on his under-the-hood numbers.

“Valera’s four-pitch mix brings a combination of power and surprising control, as he has three pitches with a strike rate over 65% and an in-zone rate over 50%,” Cundall wrote of the 6-foot-3, 205-pound hurler. “He can run his fastball up to 100 mph, but the pitch plays below its velocity due to its cut-over-ride shape. Even still, the power on it makes it tough on hitters, and it had a slightly above-average whiff rate in 2025.

“Valera’s feel for spin is advanced for his age,” added Cundall. “While his most-used secondary is his slider, his best is his sweeper. His sweeper is one of the hardest in the minors, averaging just under 87 mph with a spin rate over 2,700 rpm. It had a 69% strike rate and 43% whiff rate in 2025, making for one of the best combinations of those two stats in all of MiLB for sweepers as hard as his.”

Barring a trade or other surprise, Valera is likely to return to Greenville out of spring training for the start of his age-20 season. If he can stay healthy and further refine his arsenal, it would not be surprising to see him move up to Double-A Portland — and perhaps even Triple-A Worcester — before the 2026 campaign draws to a close.

(Picture of Juan Valera: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox’ Mikey Romero ranked No. 5 third base prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline

Earlier this week, MLB Pipeline ranked Red Sox minor league infielder Mikey Romero as one of the top 10 third base prospects in baseball heading into the 2026 season.

Romero slotted in at No. 5 on MLB Pipeline’s list behind the Brewers’ Andrew Fischer, the Mets’ Jacob Reimer, the Tigers’ Hao-Yu Lee, and the Athletics’ Tommy White. He placed ahead of the Diamondbacks’ LuJames Groover, the Blue Jays’ Juan Sanchez, the Dodgers’ Chase Harlan, the Brewers’ Brock Wilken, and the Giants’ Parks Harber.

Romero, who turned 22 last Monday, is currently ranked by MLB Pipeline as Boston’s No. 6 prospect. The left-handed hitter is coming off a solid season in which he batted .245/.300/.452 with 33 doubles, four triples, 17 home runs, 76 RBIs, 61 runs scored, five stolen bases, 34 walks, and 132 strikeouts in 111 games (489 plate appearances) between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. He led the organization in doubles, extra-base hits (54), and RBIs.

After drawing praise from Red Sox manager Alex Cora in spring training, Romero returned to Portland (where he got into 16 games to end a bounceback 2024 season) for the start of the 2025 campaign. Despite missing most of June with arm fatigue, he still hit .254/.315/.440 with 18 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, 40 RBIs, 40 runs scored, four stolen bases, 23 walks, and 74 strikeouts in 66 games (297 plate appearances) for the Sea Dogs before receiving a promotion to Worcester in early August.

Reaching the Triple-A level for the first time, Romero initially struggled out of the gate but powered his way through it by slashing .232/.276/.469 with 15 doubles, nine home runs, 36 RBIs, 21 runs scored, one stolen base, 11 walks, and 58 strikeouts in 45 games (192 plate appearances) for the WooSox to close out his season. That includes a .214/.258/.500 line against lefties and a .235/.280/.463 line against righties.

While an aggressive approach led to his strikeout and walk rates going in the wrong direction, Romero made plenty of hard contact in his first stint with the WooSox. Among Triple-A hitters who saw at least 700 pitches last year, Romero ranked in the 95th percentile in barrel rate (14 percent), the 92nd percentile in average exit velocity (91.2 mph), the 89th percentile in hard-hit rate (47.1 percent), and the 85th percentile in expected slugging percentage (.443), per Prospect Savant.

On the other side of the ball, Romero saw playing time at every infield position besides first base between his stops in Portland and Worcester last season. By the time he joined the WooSox in August, however, he had moved off shortstop and was used strictly at either second or third base. At the keystone, he logged 164 innings and committed four errors in 73 chances. At the hot corner, he logged 216 innings and committed two errors in 49 chances.

Though he is listed at 6-feet and 175 pounds, Romero is now up to at least 210 pounds, adding considerable strength over the last two years following a 2023 that was marred by a series of back injuries, including a stress fracture. This winter, he took part in Trevor Story’s camp for teammates in the Dallas area and was in attendance for the Red Sox’ rookie development program in Boston. Sandwiched in between that was an appearance at Fenway Fest on January 10.

Amidst a busy offseason, Romero spoke to reporters (including Bill Ballou of The Worcester Guardian and Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe) at Fenway Park last week about what specific areas of improvement he has focused on.

“The Red Sox do a good job of letting us know what we’ve got to be better at,” Romero said. “For me, it’s moving better laterally on defense, more arm strength. I take pride in my defense. I’m doing everything I can to know that, whatever pitcher is on the mound, they know that if the ball is hit to me, it’s an out.”

Romero, who was originally selected with the 22nd overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Orange (Calif.) Lutheran High School and then forwent his commitment to LSU by signing with the Red Sox for an under-slot $2.3 million, has put himself in a prime position to make his major league debut at some point in 2026. That is noteworthy when considering that he can become Rule-5 eligible for the first time later this year if he has not already been added to the 40-man roster by season’s end.

Given his emergence and sudden proximity to the big leagues, it would not be terribly surprising if Romero received his first non-roster invite to Red Sox spring training before camp begins in Fort Myers next month. He could join fellow infielder and rookie development program attendee Franklin Arias in that regard.

(Picture of Mikey Romero courtesy of the Boston Red Sox)

Top Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias aiming to ‘make it to the big leagues’ in 2026

After making good on his goal of reaching Double-A as a 19-year-old last season, top Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias is once again placing lofty expectations on himself heading into the 2026 campaign.

Speaking with reporters through an interpreter at the Red Sox’ rookie development program in Boston earlier this week, Arias made his goal for the upcoming season rather clear: “Make it to the big leagues.”

Arias, who turned 20 in November, is currently ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 2 prospect (behind only left-hander Payton Tolle) and the No. 48 prospect in the sport. The native Venezuelan originally signed with the Red Sox for $525,000 as an international free agent in January 2023. He put himself on the map in his stateside debut the following year as he netted top prospect and MVP honors in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.

After ending the 2024 season at Low-A Salem, Arias broke camp with Boston’s Carolina League affiliate last spring. The right-handed hitter needed just 19 additional games, in which he batted .346/.407/.397, there before receiving a promotion to High-A Greenville in late April. He picked up where he left off by earning South Atlantic League Player of the Month honors for May, but began to cool off drastically heading into the summer.

Even after slashing just .265/.329/.380 in 87 games with Greenville, though, Arias earned another promotion to Double-A Portland in early September. In doing so, he joined Roman Anthony (2023) and Xander Bogaerts (2012) as the most recent Red Sox position players to reach the Double-A level as teenagers. He then closed out his season by going 12-for-46 (.261) with two doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs, four runs scored, one stolen base, no walks, and six strikeouts in a 10-game cameo with the Sea Dogs.

Overall, Arias slashed .278/.335/.388 with 27 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 66 RBIs, 62 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, 38 walks, and 53 strikeouts in 116 total games (526 plate appearances) between Salem, Greenville, and Portland last year. That includes a .235/.307/.313 line against lefties and a .291/.343/.412 line against righties.

Among 36 Red Sox minor leaguers who made at least 300 trips to the plate in 2025, Arias ranked first in strikeout rate (10.1 percent), second in swinging-strike rate (5.3 percent), fourth in batting average, 12th in wRC+ (109), 13th in on-base percentage, 15th in OPS (.723) and wOBA (.342), and 16th in slugging percentage, per FanGraphs.

On the defensive side of things, which is where he stood out as an amateur, Arias saw the vast majority of his playing time last year come at shortstop. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds throughout the season, the sure-handed infielder made 101 of his 116 starts between Salem, Greenville, and Portland at short, committing seven errors in 386 chances. He also started five games at second base and 10 games at DH.

“One of the things we’ve talked to him a lot about is his physicality,” Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham said of Arias when speaking with The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey. “Continue to add strength, add size, and impact the baseball. Obviously, a really good defender, really good range, consistency in the field. Swing decisions have been phenomenal. Bat-to-ball skills have been really strong. But at the end of the day, him impacting the baseball consistently as he gets to the upper levels is really important.”

Arias, who was able to leave his home country following the United States ‘ capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in time to attend the Red Sox’ rookie development program, told Healey that his focus over the course of the offseason has been working on his body.

“You can’t take anything for granted or settle with how you are right now,” said Arias. “I need to improve my other qualities [to] the same level as my defense.”

Barring a blockbuster trade or other surprise move, Arias is projected to return to Portland for the start of the upcoming season, so he will once again need to move up multiple levels if he is indeed intent on making his big league debut at some point this year.

In the more immediate future, it has yet to be determined if Arias and other prominent Red Sox prospects not on the 40-man roster (such as fellow infielder and rookie development program attendee Mikey Romero) will be receiving non-roster invites to major league spring training in Fort Myers next month. That decision is likely to come sooner rather than later.

(Picture of Franklin Arias: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Which prospect did Red Sox trade to Athletics for Rule 5 pick Ryan Watson?

Following the conclusion of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft, the Red Sox swung a trade with the Athletics for a pitcher who had just heard his name called.

In exchange for right-hander Ryan Watson, whom the Athletics took from the Giants system with the eighth overall pick in the major league phase, the Red Sox sent infield/outfield prospect Justin Riemer and cash considerations to the A’s.

MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo was the first to report news of the trade.

Riemer, who turns 24 in February, was not ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com. The Virginia native was originally selected by the Red Sox out of Wright State with the 133rd overall pick in the 2023 draft, which the club received as compensation for losing Nathan Eovaldi to the Rangers in free agency the previous winter. He received an above-slot $500,000 signing bonus but was recovering from a torn ACL at that time, which pushed his professional debut back until last July.

After splitting the remainder of the 2024 season between the Florida Complex League and High-A Greenville, Riemer spent the majority of 2025 with the latter affiliate. Though he was sidelined from April 16 to May 15 with a shoulder injury, the right-handed hitter batted .232/.423/.275 with six doubles, one home run, 16 RBIs, 33 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 64 walks, and 55 strikeouts in 76 games (279 plate appearances) for the Drive. He appeared in six games (August 23-24, September 10-14) across two separate stints with Double-A Portland as well, going 4-for-18 (.222) with one double, two RBIs, five runs scored, five walks, and five strikeouts.

Overall, Riemer slashed .231/.421/.276 with seven doubles, one home run, 18 RBIs, 38 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 69 walks, and 60 strikeouts in 82 total games (303 plate appearances) between Greenville and Portland this past season. Among 36 Red Sox minor leaguers who made at least 300 trips to the plate, Riemer ranked first in walk rate (22.8 percent), on-base percentage, and swinging-strike rate (3.2 percent), fourth in wRC+ (123), seventh in wOBA (.360), and ninth in strikeout rate (19.8 percent), per FanGraphs.

On the other side of the ball, Riemer saw playing time at five different positions between his stops in Greenville and Portland this year. The versatile 5-foot-10, 170-pounder logged 309 innings at second base, 179 innings at third base, 108 innings in left field, 40 innings in right field, and 14 innings at shortstop, committing eight errors in 299 total defensive chances. He also made three starts at DH.

Though he has yet to hit for much power to this point in his career, Riemer has drawn praise for his advanced approach, pitch recognition, and bat-to-ball skills. Those traits, among others, must have stood out to the Athletics when putting together this one-for-one swap with the Red Sox.

With that being said, Riemer — barring another move — seems likely to open the 2026 season with either the Athletics’ High-A or Double-A affiliate. It is worth noting that he is in line to become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft for the first time next winter.

(Picture of Justin Riemer: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Which prospect did Red Sox acquire from Angels for Vaughn Grissom?

The Red Sox parted ways with infielder Vaughn Grissom on Tuesday by sending him to the Angels in a minor trade.

In exchange for Grissom, Boston simultaneously opened a 40-man roster spot ahead of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft and acquired outfield prospect Isaiah Jackson from Los Angeles.

Jackson, 21, was originally taken by the Astros in the 18th round of the 2022 draft out of Cienega High School in Arizona. Rather than enter the professional ranks at that time, though, the Vail, Ariz. native elected to honor his commitment to Arizona State. He played three seasons with the Sun Devils and batted .310/.402/.630 with 11 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 68 RBIs, 51 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, 28 walks, and 43 strikeouts in 60 games (251 plate appearances) as a junior this past spring en route to earning All-Big 12 First Team honors.

Coming off a standout junior season, Jackson was ranked as Baseball America’s No. 179 prospect in the 2025 draft class. This time around, the left-handed hitter was selected by the Angels in the eighth round (229th overall) of July’s draft and signed for an over-slot $297,500. He made his professional debut with Los Angeles’ High-A affiliate in early August and appeared in 10 games for the Tri-City Dust Devils, going 7-for-32 (.219) with one double, one home run, four RBIs, six runs scored, four walks, and 13 strikeouts. Defensively, he made nine starts in center field and did not commit an error in 81 innings there.

Before Tuesday’s trade, Jackson was slated to enter 2026 as Baseball America’s No. 25 Angels prospect. The publication notes that the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder is “a well-built left-handed-hitting center fielder who is a plus defender despite only average speed,” adding that “he has the bat speed to have solid power with a swing geared especially toward pullside damage, but there are some questions about how well he will hit against more advanced pitching, especially against breaking balls.”

Jackson, who turns 22 in May, becomes the latest 2025 draftee to be added by the Red Sox via trade in recent weeks, joining the likes of Luke Heyman (acquired from the Mariners) and Adonys Guzman (acquired from the Pirates). Barring another move, he appears likely to start the 2026 campaign at High-A Greenville.

(Picture of Isaiah Jackson: Kate Woolson/Texas Rangers/Getty Images)

Which prospects did Red Sox acquire from Pirates in Johan Oviedo trade?

In addition to right-hander Johan Oviedo, the Red Sox acquired pitching prospect Tyler Samaniego and catching prospect Adonys Guzman as part of their five-player trade with the Pirates on Thursday night.

Samaniego, who turns 27 next month, was originally selected by the Pirates in the 15th round (433rd overall) of the 2021 draft out of South Alabama. The left-hander received a $75,000 signing bonus and has since logged a 3.82 ERA with 182 strikeouts to 63 walks in 127 career minor league outings (two starts) totaling 158 innings.

Even though he has yet to pitch above the Double-A level, Samaniego was added to the Pirates’ 40-man roster last month to receive protection from next week’s Rule 5 Draft. The Red Sox opened a spot for Samaniego on their own 40-man roster by designating righty Cooper Criswell for assignment.

After ending 2024 on the 60-day injured list due to an elbow injury that required an internal brace, Samaniego did not make his 2025 season debut until May. He rehabbed with Pittsburgh’s Florida Complex League, Low-A, and High-A affiliates before rejoining Double-A Altoona in late June. From there, he posted a 3.08 ERA with 30 strikeouts to six walks in 20 relief appearances (26 1/3 innings) for the Curve. Opposing Eastern League hitters batted just .189 against him.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Samaniego operates with a mid-90s fastball that reached 97 mph in 2025, a low-to-mid-80s slider, and a “seldom-used” upper-80s changeup, according to Baseball America. He should provide the Red Sox with some much-needed left-handed relief depth after Brennan Bernardino (Rockies) and Chris Murphy (White Sox) were traded away last month.

Guzman, meanwhile, celebrated his 22nd birthday on Thursday. The Bronx, N.Y., native originally attended Boston College out of high school in 2023 before transferring to Arizona for his sophomore and junior seasons. He was selected by the Pirates in the fifth round (144th overall) of July’s draft after batting .328/.411/.496 with 12 doubles, nine home runs, 44 RBIs, 43 runs scored, 27 walks, and 32 strikeouts in 62 games (271 plate appearances) for the Wildcats this past spring.

Guzman was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 314 prospect in the 2025 draft class and signed with the Pirates for $496,500. The right-handed hitter made his professional debut in Low-A Bradenton’s penultimate game of the season and stood out by going 2-for-5 with one home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. He also threw out one would-be base stealer.

Per his pre-draft Baseball America scouting report, Guzman, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 221 pounds, “remains a glove-first catcher whose swing is often a bit stiff and pull-oriented, though he does have solid pullside power and the plate discipline you might expect of a catcher. His arm remains one of the best in class three years later, with excellent carry on his throws that should help control the running game.” 

Guzman is the third minor league catcher the Red Sox have acquired in the last three weeks, joining Ronny Hernandez (White Sox) and fellow 2025 draftee Luke Heyman (Mariners). He is a candidate to open the 2026 season at either Low-A Salem or High-A Greenville.

(Picture of Adonys Guzman: Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Which prospects did Red Sox trade to Pirates for Johan Oviedo?

To acquire right-hander Johan Oviedo (and two others) from the Pirates on Thursday night, the Red Sox traded outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia and pitching prospect Jesus Travieso to Pittsburgh.

Garcia, who turns 23 next week, was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 6 prospect. Otherwise known as “The Password,” the native Venezuelan originally signed with the Red Sox for $350,000 as an international free agent in July 2019 and was added to the club’s 40-man roster last November following a breakout 2024 campaign.

This past season, Garcia represented the Red Sox at the All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta and was called up for his major league debut in late August. The right-handed hitting slugger did not get much of a chance to put his power on display, as he went just 1-for-7 (.143) with one double, two walks, and five strikeouts in a brief five-game cameo before being sent back down on August 29. He made two starts in right field and one start in left field.

Between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, however, Garcia batted .267/.340/.470 with 17 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 75 RBIs, 79 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 45 walks, and 131 strikeouts over 114 games (434 plate appearances) in 2025. He led the organization in homers for a second straight season to earn Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Though he is brimming with potential on both sides of the ball, Garcia did not have a clear path to playing time with the Red Sox, as he was behind the likes of Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, and Ceddanne Rafaela on the club’s outfield depth chart. Barring another move, he should have more of an opportunity with the Pirates in 2026 and will presumably compete for a spot on Pittsburgh’s Opening Day roster when spring training begins.

Like Garcia, Travieso also hails from Venezuela. The 18-year-old right-hander was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 16 prospect and originally signed with the Red Sox for just $10,000 as an international free agent last January. He made his stateside debut this past season after spending all of 2024 in the Dominican Summer League.

In 19 total outings (16 starts) between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem, Travieso posted a 3.06 ERA with 90 strikeouts to 36 walks over 64 2/3 innings in which opponents batted .236 against him. Undersized at 5-foot-11, Travieso is equipped with a live arm and features a 94-96 mph fastball that can reach 100 mph, an 84-86 mph slider, and a changeup.

Travieso, who turns 19 in March, has starter upside but may be better suited for a relief role in the long run, given his frame and below-average command. Regardless, he seems likely to open the 2026 season with either Pittsburgh’s Low-A or High-A affiliate.

(Picture of Jhostynxon Garcia: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox acquire catching prospect, 2025 14th-round pick Luke Heyman in trade with Mariners

As part of a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday, the Red Sox acquired three minor leaguers in three separate trades with the White Sox, Rockies, and Mariners.

This article will focus on Boston acquiring catching prospect Luke Heyman from Seattle for minor league right-hander Alex Hoppe, who was eligible for next month’s Rule 5 Draft but has since been added to the Mariners’ 40-man roster to nullify that.

Heyman, 22, was selected by the Mariners in the 14th round (422nd overall) of the 2025 draft out of the University of Florida. The Altamonte Springs, Fla. native received an over-slot $230,000 signing bonus but did not appear in a game for one of Seattle’s affiliates due to a fractured forearm that prematurely ended his junior season in May.

Before the injury, Heyman batted .301/.397/.578 with seven doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 44 RBIs, 37 runs scored, 22 walks, and 38 strikeouts over 49 games (204 plate appearances) for the Gators this past spring en route to earning All-SEC First Team honors. The right-handed hitter was ranked as Baseball America’s No. 127 draft-eligible prospect before dropping to the 14th round in July.

“Heyman offers plus raw power and improving swing decisions,” his pre-draft Baseball America scouting report reads. “He generates carry and lift to the pull side, even on pitches thrown in the outer half of the zone. While Heyman struggled somewhat with offspeed pitches, particularly changeups, he crushed velocity, a byproduct of solid bat speed and rhythm. He stays balanced through his swing and can punish mistakes over the plate.”

On the other side of the ball, Heyman saw the vast majority of his playing time this season come at catcher. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder made 45 starts behind the plate for the Gators and allowed just three passed balls while throwing out 11 of 45 possible base stealers. He also has prior experience at first base.

“Heyman is a well-below-average athlete, which shows up in his limited range of motion, choppy running stride, and heavy lower half,” his scouting report continues. “Scouts believe he has a chance to stick behind the plate thanks to above-average arm strength and improved receiving and blocking. He presented pitches more cleanly than in years past and showed a feel for handling a staff.”

Heyman, who does not turn 23 until next July, is a candidate to make his professional debut with Low-A Salem to start the 2026 season, though he could be a fast riser through Boston’s farm system. Like fellow trade addition Ronny Hernandez, Heyman provides the Red Sox with some much-needed catching depth.

(Picture of Luke Heyman: Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Which prospect did Red Sox acquire from White Sox for Chris Murphy?

As part of a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday, the Red Sox acquired three minor leaguers in three separate trades with the White Sox, Rockies, and Mariners.

This article will focus on Boston acquiring catching prospect Ronny Hernandez from Chicago for left-hander Chris Murphy.

Hernandez, who turned 21 earlier this month, spent the first four seasons of his professional career in the White Sox organization after originally signing with the club as an international free agent coming out of Venezuela in June 2022. The Turmero native made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League shortly thereafter, then followed that up by earning Arizona Complex League All-Star honors in 2023.

After impressing in rookie ball, Hernandez made the jump to Low-A Kannapolis in 2024 and repeated the level in 2025. In 82 games for the Cannon Ballers this season, the left-handed hitter batted .251/.344/.366 with 12 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 34 RBIs, 33 runs scored, four stolen bases, 45 walks, and 75 strikeouts over 355 plate appearances. That includes a .161/.242/.196 line against lefties and a .271/.365/.467 line against righties.

On the other side of the ball, Hernandez made a team-high 64 starts at catcher for Kannapolis this year. In the process of logging 550 innings behind the plate, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound backstop committed 10 errors and allowed four passed balls while throwing out 37 of 152 possible base stealers. He also made 18 starts at DH.

Hernandez was not ranked among the White Sox’ top 30 prospects by publications such as Baseball America or MLB Pipeline, but should nonetheless provide the Red Sox with much-needed catching depth in the lower minors. He is a candidate to open the 2026 campaign with High-A Greenville and can become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft for the first time at season’s end.

(Picture of Chris Murphy: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox prospects Luis Perales, Stanley Tucker named 2025 Fall Stars

Red Sox prospects Luis Perales and Stanley Tucker have been selected to the 2025 Fall Stars Game, the Arizona Fall League announced on Thursday.

Perales, a 22-year-old right-hander, and Tucker, a 23-year-old infielder/outfielder, will represent the Salt River Rafters by suiting up for the American League in the 19th annual Fall Stars Game at Mesa’s Sloan Park on Sunday night. The game, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET, will be broadcast live on MLB Network and MLB.com.

Perales, one of Boston’s top pitching prospects and a member of the club’s 40-man roster, is still in the process of working his way back from June 2024 Tommy John surgery. After a lengthy rehab, the Venezuelan-born righty returned to the mound in September, appearing in two games (one start) for Double-A Portland and one game for Triple-A Worcester before the minor-league season concluded.

So far this fall, Perales has mostly struggled in the hitter-friendly AFL. Through five starts for Salt River, the 6-foot-1 hurler has posted a 9.58 ERA with 16 strikeouts to 10 walks over 10 1/3 innings in which opponents have batted .326 against him. Stuff-wise, he has reached triple digits with his fastball while also mixing in a cutter, slider, and changeup.

As he is slated to make his sixth start for Salt River on Friday, Perales will not pitch in Sunday’s Fall Stars Game. With that being said, he will nonetheless be an intriguing name to watch from within the Red Sox organization for various reasons heading into 2026.

Tucker, meanwhile, is not ranked among Boston’s top prospects but is also working his way back from injury following a lost 2025. After suffering a torn labrum from dislocating his shoulder last August that required surgery, the former 2023 19th-round draft selection out of Texas A&M crashed into the outfield wall in his first spring training game in March, dislocating a bone in his right wrist. He then spent all season on Low-A Salem’s 60-day injured list.

Now healthy, Tucker has had a solid fall thus far. Coming into play on Thursday, the right-handed hitter has batted .288/.397/.333 with three doubles, 14 RBIs, 10 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, 12 walks, and 19 strikeouts through 20 games (78 plate appearances) for Salt River. His 12 base thefts are good for the fourth-most in the AFL.

Defensively, Tucker has seen all of his playing time this fall come at second base. The 5-foot-9, 165-pounder has logged a team-leading 162 1/3 innings at the keystone for Salt River, committing seven errors in 94 chances. He also has prior professional experience at third base and all three outfield positions.

Beyond Perales and Tucker, former Red Sox farmhand Miguel Ugueto (taken by the Cardinals in the minor league phase of the 2024 Rule 5 Draft) was named a National League Fall Star on Thursday. Additionally, Braden Montgomery, one of four prospects traded to the White Sox for ace Garrett Crochet last December, is a finalist via the ‘Final 2’ fan vote for the last spot on the American League’s Fall Stars roster. Whether he makes it or not will be determined on Friday.

 (Picture of Luis Perales: Chris Coduto/Getty Images)